Self-closing container



June 1965 w. H. CHAFFEE 3,

SELF-CLOSING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 31, 1962 w it'orzzeys United States Patent O 3,187,925 SELF-CLOSING CONTAINER William H. Chatfee, Hinsdale, Ill., assignor to Model Builders, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 234,328

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-35) This invention relates to containers, andin particular, to self-closing containers such as for receiving small items such as rubbish.

The present invention comprehends an improved container which is particularly well adapted for use as a waste collector as on dining counters and tables. There has long been a need for a simple, inexpensive container for receiving and holding small articles, such as paper wrappers, toothpicks, and the like, which a diner may desire to dispose of during the course of a meal, as in a restaurant.

The present invention provides an improved container which solves this problem in a novel and simple manner. Further, the structural concepts embodied in the present invention may be utilized in containers suitable for other applications wherein the features of simplicity and economic construction together with improved facilitated collection and disposal are desirable.

Thus, a principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a container arranged for facilitated collection and disposal of items such as rubbish. V

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a container including improved means for manipulation thereof.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a container wherein the manipulating means further-serves as means forsupporting the container in its normal upright position.

A yet further object of the invention isqthe provision of such a container which is simple and economical in construction.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a container embodying the invention, the container being shown in a collecting position in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a container generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a pair of generally similar enclosures 11 and 12 selectively positioned in a first, closed position as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1 and a second, opened position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. The

3,187,925 Patented June 8, 1965 sion of bottom wall 18 of enclosure 12, and leg 17 com prises an integral extension of bottom wall 18 of enclosure 11 whereby the biasing force of the spring ends and 26 serves to bias the enclosures 11 and 12 pivotally about the axis of 'pinlS to the normally closed position.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the side walls 19 and 20 of the respective enclosuresll and 12 facially overlap in the closed position. The bottom wall 18, side walls 19 and 2t and flange 22 of each enclosure effectively define a side opening 27, which openings in the closed position of the container are in confronting relationship whereby the enclosures elfectively define a closed receptacle. When the enclosures, however, are pivoted to the opened position, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, the openings 27 are disposed away from each other and exposed to the exterior of the container, thereby providing access to the interior of the container. Illustratively, the enclosures are so pivoted by the introduction of material between the flanges 22 into the'interior 23 of the container, as by the users urging trash or the like thereinto with the con-= tainer disposed, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the. drawing.

respective enclosures are provided with hinge portions 13 and 14 which are pivotally carried on a pin 15 whereby the enclosures are pivotally movable selectively to the open and closed positions. Depending legs 16 and 17 are provided on the respective enclosures 12 and 11 for supporting the container 10 in an upright position on a horizontal surface, such as that defined by a table-top T.

Herein the legs 16 and 17 further define finger grasping elements for manipulation of the enclosures 11 and 12, such as for disposing the enclosures in the opened arrangement while concurrently inverting the container topermit disposal of the collected material therefrom to a suitable trash receiving element, such as a garbage can (not shown).

More specifically, each enclosure comprises a bottom wall 18, apair of side walls 19 and 20, an end wall 21,

and an inturned flange 22 at the upper end of the end wall ,a hinge pin structure for In .this manner the container may be used for collecting the refuse material. i

The enclosures may similarly be disposed in an opened position when it is desired to dispose of the collected material. In this operation, theuser merely grasps the legs 16 and 17 between opposed fingers, and while holding the container in an inverted position urge the fingers to- 1 ward each other against the action of the biasing spring 24. This causes the enclosures to pivot apart and permit the collected material to 23 through the now exposed spaced flanges 22.

In illustrating the invention, I have shown the legs 16 t and 17 as arranged for resting engagement on a horizontal member, such as table T. It is obvious, however, that the container may be equally well utilized where disposed in a horizontal position as by securing one of the legs to a vertical surface. As it is only necessary that movement of one enclosure relative to the other be elfected to open the container as for collection or disposal .of the refuse material, one of the legs 16 and 17 may be fixedly secured to the supporting surface. Further, in illustrating the invention, I have shown an inturned flange 22=defining the upper entrance to the collecting space 23 defined by the enclosures. Other suitable configurations of the upper confronting portions of the enclosures may be employed within the scope of the invention in its broad aspects. Still further, in illustrating the invention, I have disclosed pivotally connecting the enclosures. As will be obvious to one skilled in the art, other articulating joint means may be employed for effecting the desired pivotal connection of the two enclosure structures.

The disclosed container 10 is extremely simple and economical in construction. As indicatedabove, the legs 16 and 17 may be formed integrally with the enclosures 11 and 12. The enclosures maybe formed as by stamping from suitable metal material, such as aluminum sheet stock, or molded from plastic material. extreme simplicity of construction, the container is virtually foolproof in operation while yet providing an improved facilitated collection and disposal of refuse material and the like.

pass downwardly from the space openings 27 and between the By virtue of the a V V a p 1 .While, I have'shown and described one'ernbodirnent of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the, spirit andscope of the invention as defined. in the appendedlclairns.

I claim:

1. A self-closing container, comprising: a pair of enclosures cooperatively forming a container, each of said enclosures having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls defining aside opening; pivot means connecting the enclosures about a common axis for pivotal movement to selectively dispose the enclosure in a. first position with said, openings in confrontingrelationship and said side walls in overlapping telescopning relationship whereby the enclosures eiiectively define a closed receptacle, and

- in a second position where-the openings are disposed away from each other to provide free access to the interior of the receptacle; a handle structure on said enclosure arranged for manipulation of the enclosures, said handle structure having coplanar, spaced portions for supporting the container in an upright position on a horizontal surface; coil spring means coaxial of said pivot means for biasing said enclosure to said first position; and flange means-on each enclosure inturned downwardly to define a normally closed, entrance slot at the. upper end of, the container, said slot being opened by the insertion of material into the receptacle and being closed by the action of the biasing means when the material passes to within the receptacle.

2. The self-closing conta ner of claim 1 wherein said,

handle portions define flat support surfaces,

3. The seli-closing container of claim 1 vwherein said handle structure comprises a pair of legs each having a distal flat end defining said supporting portions of said handlestructure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS, 1,735 ,3 24 11/29 LEnfant 20 6-41 2,082,442 1/37 Davidson 220-1 2,531,066 11/50 Lynch 2 O6--15.1

a REIGN P ENT 28,957 6/03 Germany.

THERON E, CONDON, Primary Examiner. WESLEY S. COLE, Examiner. 

1. A SELF-CLOSING CONTAINER, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF ENCLOSURES COOPERATIVELY FORMING A CONTAINER, EACH OF SAID ENCLOSURES HAVING A BOTTOM WALL AND UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS DEFINING A SIDE OPENING; PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING THE ENCLOSURES ABOUT A COMMON AXIS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT TO SELECTIVELY DISPOSE THE ENCLOSURE IN A FIRST POSITION WITH SAID OPENINGS IN CONFRONTING RELATIONSHIP AND SAID SIDE WALLS IN OVERLAPPING TELESCOPING RELATIONSHIP WHEREBY THE ENCLOSURES EFFECTIVELY DEFINE A CLOSED RECEPTACLE, AND IN A SECOND POSITION WHERE THE OPENINGS ARE DISPOSED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE RECEPTACLE; A HANDLE STRUCTURE ON SAID ENCLOSURE ARRANGED FOR MANIPULATION OF THE ENCLOSURES, SAID HANDLE STRUCTURE HAVING COPLANAR, SPACED PORTIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE CONTAINER IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION ON A HORIZONTAL SURFACE; COIL SPRING MEANS COAXIAL OF SAID PIVOT MEANS FOR BIASING SAID ENCLOSURE TO SAID FIRST POSITION; AND FLANGE MEANS ON EACH ENCLOSURE INTURNED DOWNWARDLY TO DEFINE A NORMALLY CLOSED ENTRANCE SLOT AT THE UPPER END OF THE CONTAINER, SAID SLOT BEING OPENED BY THE INSERTION OF MATERIAL INTO THE RECEPTACLE AND BEING CLOSED BY THE ACTION OF THE BIASING MEANS WHEN THE MATERIAL PASSES TO WITHIN THE RECEPTACLE. 